Process for manufacturing a disposable shoe insert



April 4, 1967 D. G. TlBBlTTs, JR., ETAL 3,312,001

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A DISPOSABLE SHOE INSERT Filed March 3l, 1964 WIM 3 26 22 5 /4 in... e

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u INVENTORS 0006015 6. 7765/71'J3J4. MAeY //rs United A"States Patent flce 3,312,001 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 3,312,001 PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A DISPOSABLE SHUE INSERT Douglas G. Tibbitts, Jr., and Mary Tibbitts, both of 1013 McKinley St., Woodland, Calif. 95695 Filed Mar. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 356,092 2 Claims. (Cl. 36-4-4) This invention relates to a process for manufacturing a disposable shoe insert and to the article produced thereby and relates more particularly to the production of an insert which provides protection for the shoe and increased comfort for the wearer.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a disposable shoe insert which is inexpensive to manufacture and thereby disposable, and efficient and comfortable 1n use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a process for manufacturing such a disposable shoe insert which is fast and inexpensive producing an improved article in a more expeditious manner.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide an absorbent disposable shoe insert which will prevent perspiration from the foot of the wearer from reaching the shoe thereby protecting the shoe and likewise will prevent moisture seeping into the shoe through the sole and the seam connecting the sole to the upper from reaching the foot of the wearer.

A still further object of the instant invention is the provision of a disposable shoe insert which, due to its specific construction, provides a unique cushioning effect to the wearer.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a disposable shoe insert which is attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured in any of a variety of colors.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan View of one embodiment of the disposable shoe insert of the instant invention with the various plies broken away for illustrative clarity.

FIGURE 2 is an ex-ploded view showing the various layers `and plies of the embodiment of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the plies taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of a modified form of the disposable shoe insert of the instant invention having two layers and eight plies instead of three layers and twelve plies as with the embodiment of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross-section-al view similar to FIGURE 3, but of the two layer embodiment shown in FIGURE 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in general, and more particularly to FIGURES l to 4, one embodiment of a disposable shoe insert in accordance with the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprises basically a plurality of layers 12, 14, and 16 each having a plurality of plies of absorbent material 18, 20, 22, and 24, the embodiment of FIG- URES l to 4 illustrating a twelve ply, three layer insert. The outer plies 18 and 24 of each layer are preferably formed of a paper toweling material, such as conventional kitchen paper toweling and the inner plies 20 and 22 of each layer are preferably formed of an industrial wadding material. The outer plies 18 and 24 are preferably provided in a desired color, such as yellow, pink, aqua, or in white. As will be seen particularly in FIGURE 4, each of the plies is preferably transversely creped to provide for slight longitudinal stretching of the layers while precluding any transverse stretching.

The procedure for manufacturing a disposable insert such as 10 is to adhesively secu-re the plurality of plies 18, 20, 22, 'and 24 of each layer to each other over their entire surface by spaced spots of glue 26, the glue preferably being applied between the second and third plies 20, 22 as shown in full lines in FIGURE l and the plies being suiciently permeable that the spots of glue pass through the second and third plies to secure all four plies of each layer together. If desired, the glued plies of each layer may be passed between conventional roller means (not shown) while the glue is wet to facilitate the securing operation. After the glue has dried, the desired number of layers are superimposed and any conventional die means (not shown) is utilized to sever the superimposed layers to ldefine the desired shape such as the sole conliguration shown in FIGURE 1. The severing step presses the plurality of layers into securing relationship at their peripheral edge portions only as shown particularly in FIGURE 3 at 28.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show a two-layer, eight ply embodiment of the disposable shoe insert of the instant invention manufactured in substantially the same manner as the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 4. Parts similar to the previous embodiment have been designated by the same reference characters followed by the suix a.

It will -be understood that the specific number of plies and the specific number of layers may vary with the attendant use of the insert.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided :an improved process for manufacturing a disposable shoe insert and an improved article produced thereby which, due to its specific construction wherein a plurality of layers of absorbent material are pressed into securing relationship at their peripheral edge .portions only, each layer being comprised of a plurality of plies adhesively secured to each other at spaced locations over their entire surface, is uniquely resilient resulting in a cushioned effect most comfortable to the user.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A process for manufacturing a disposable shoe insert comprising the steps of forming a plurality of layers of absorbent material, each layer being formed of a plurality of plies of glue permeable material, securing the plies of each layer to each other by applying spaced spots of glue over the entire surface of one side of alternate plies and permitting the glue to pass through to the opposite side of the ply to which the spots are applied to secure the ply on the opposite side thereof, superposing the layers, and severing the superposed layers under pressure to 2a shape conforming to the interior sole of a shoe, the pressure of the severing step pressing the layers into securing relation about their peripheral edges and comprising the sole means for securing said layers together.

2. The process of cl-aim 1 wherein each layer consists of four plies, said spaced spots of glue being applied between the second and third ply of each layer, said plies being sufficiently permeable that said spots of glue pass 3 4 through said second and third plies to secure all four 2,714,771 8/ 1955 Olfene 36--9 plies of each layer together. 3,148,463 9/ 1964 Tibbitts 36-44.

References Cited bythe Examiner JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 H. H. HUNTER, Assistant Examiner` 2,121,604 6/1938 Lynch et al. 36--44 

1. A PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A DISPOSABLE SHOE INSERT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING A PLURALITY OF LAYERS OF ABSORBENT MATERIAL, EACH LAYER BEING FORMED OF A PLURALITY OF PLIES OF GLUE PERMEABLE MATERIAL, SECURING THE PLIES OF EACH LAYER TO EACH OTHER BY APPLYING SPACED SPOTS OF GLUE OVER THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF ONE SIDE OF ALTERNATE PLIES AND PERMITTING THE GLUE TO PASS THROUGH TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PLY TO WHICH THE SPOTS ARE APPLIED TO SECURE THE PLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF, SUPERPOSING THE LAYERS, AND SEVERING THE SUPERPOSED LAYERS UNDER PRESSURE TO A SHAPE CONFORMING TO THE INTERIOR SOLE OF A SHOE, THE PRESSURE OF THE SEVERING STEP PRESSING THE LAYERS INTO SECURING RELATION ABOUT THEIR PERIPHERAL EDGES AND COMPRISING THE SOLE MEANS FOR SECURING SAID LAYERS TOGETHER. 